Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 22, 1994 TAG: 9407080014
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
The policy, outlined in a report, was approved ``overwhelmingly'' by laity and clergy attending the Virginia Annual Conference, said the Rev. Alvin J. Horton, director of communications for the conference.
``To harass or abuse another person sexually is dehumanizing, is the unjust use of status and power, and denies who we are called to be in Christ. This is a sin against God and other persons,'' the report says.
The Sexual Misconduct Task Force report was presented by Barbara Barrow, Harrisonburg district superintendent. Aside from a few ``friendly amendments,'' the report was passed with little comment, Horton said.
``It was just a matter of fine-tuning it,'' he said. ``There seems to be a fair amount of consensus that this seems important.''
While he did not have any figures related to allegations of sexual misconduct in the church, Horton said he does not believe the problem is any more extensive within the church than in society as a whole.
The 1992 General Conference of the United Methodist Church instructed each annual conference to adopt a sexual misconduct policy, including grievance procedures for victims and penalties for offenders.
The policies are to be summarized and reported to the 1996 General Conference.
A task force presented a proposed sexual misconduct policy to the Virginia Annual Conference in 1993, but it was referred back to the task force for refinement.
The report says sexual harassment has been documented in United Methodist churches, agencies and institutions, but does not address any specific cases.
The policy outlines various forms of sexual misconduct, including: sexual innuendo and jokes; nonverbal harassment, which includes making obscene gestures; and physical harassment.
The policy suggests what church members should do in the event allegations of sexual misconduct are lodged against clergy or others who work in the church and its agencies.
Specially trained response teams are to be established in the coming months. They will meet with both sides and help handle grievance procedures.
More than 2,400 people, nearly half of them clergy, are attending this week's conference at Norfolk, Horton said.
Overall church membership dropped from 349,741 in 1992 to 348,883 in 1993, according to James Branscome, conference statistician.
The church appears to be ``leveling off at this point,'' Horton said.
On Monday, Darlene Amon of Suffolk was elected the Virginia conference's next lay leader.
by CNB